{
  "id": 3757344,
  "title": "New-look Pac-12 looking to flex its way into CFP with unique schedule at end of regular season",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/new-look-pac-12-looking-to-flex-its-way-into-cfp-with-unique-schedule-3757344",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-27T14:53:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Associated Press",
    "slug": "associated-press",
    "url": "https://apnews.com/article/pac12-cfp-flex-schedule-110ecfe17a7cb0f848b8732070fe60ed"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The resurrected Pac-12 aims to inch closer to the prestigious College Football Playoff (CFP) with a daring \"flex\" schedule during the final week of the regular season. This bold move marks a stark departure from the conference's past as an automatic-bid Power Five league. Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould revealed the innovative strategy, emphasizing its potential to boost both bowl and CFP access for its teams. \"We can kind of manipulate the schedule in a way that it’s the most advantageous to our teams, whether it’s for bowl access, CFP access,\" Gould stated. The conference's survival hung in the balance after a mass exodus led to Oregon State and Washington State as the sole remaining teams. To rebuild, the Pac-12 welcomed six new football members — Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State, Utah State, Texas State, and Fresno State, with Gonzaga joining in basketball. Securing a spot in the CFP proved a formidable challenge for the reformed conference, as the previous version held a clear path thanks to its Power Five status. Now a part of the Group of Six, the Pac-12 secures one guaranteed CFP spot for its top-ranked team, with the rest of the 12-team playoff determined by the strongest resumes. The conference's scheduling conundrum was particularly daunting, as an eight-team league necessitated finding five nonconference games — a daunting task in the current Football Bowl Subdivision landscape. However, the Pac-12's solution not only alleviated the need for an additional conference game but simultaneously fortified its CFP prospects.",
  "summary": "The reincarnated Pac-12 will try to flex its way into the College Football Playoff. No longer an automatic-bid Power Five conference, the…",
  "key_points": [
    "Pac-12 introduces flex schedule for final week of regular season",
    "Commissioner Teresa Gould emphasizes strategic advantage for teams",
    "Conference secures one guaranteed CFP spot, rest determined by resumes"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}